Conor McGregor, UFC’s next superstar, deserves your attention and your respect

IT’S taken this mad Irishman 18 months to go from virtual unknown to global superstar. How has Conor McGregor done it?

UFC boss Dana White has never been afraid of using a bit of hyperbole to talk up his fighters, but what he had to say about Irish featherweight Conor McGregor last month made everyone stand up and take notice.

“Conor McGregor is the real deal — he is legit,” White said.

“He is a force that I have never seen ever. Bigger than Brock Lesnar when he was here. Bigger than any of the fighters we’ve ever had. Yes, (he’s bigger than Georges St-Pierre). I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Conor McGregor is unbeaten in four UFC fights. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

It was hefty praise for the 26-year-old Dublin native with a 16-2 career record, but warranted, given what he has done since signing with the UFC early last year.

While his rise to contender status in a division dominated by Brazilian Jose Aldo has been impressive, it’s what he’s doing for everyone’s bank balance that has been the most staggering.

“(The) guy can literally drive numbers from an entire country. When Conor fights the entire country of Ireland shuts down. We get like a 60 share of the TV market there,” UFC chief executive Lorenzo Fertitta told bloodyelbow.com.

“Over 11 per cent of the tickets sold in Las Vegas (for McGregor’s last fight) were from Ireland. He moves the needle on Pay-Per-View. He headlined his first event in Ireland, did a $1.4 million gate.”

McGregor has 14 knockouts in his 16 wins.

But it’s no longer just Ireland which is paying attention to McGregor.

Yahoo! Sports recently revealed McGregor is the most searched fighter on the UFC’s digital streaming service FightPass, and his two first UFC fights — against low-profile opponents — rank in the top 10 most-watched fights ever on FightPass.

So how has mixed martial art’s biggest phenomenon done it?

HE’S DYNAMITE IN INTERVIEWS

Whether it’s a future opponent ...

A room full of bloodthirsty Brazilian fans ...

Or an arena full of diehard Irish supporters ...

McGregor just dominates when you put a microphone in front of him.

Here are his thoughts on:

How he plans to spend his new-found wealth ...

“I’m just going to blow all that money quick, then I’m hungry again. That’s my financial plan.”

His flashy attire ...

“These custom made suits aren’t cheap. This solid gold pocket watch? Three people died making this watch, you know what I mean?”

Opponent Dustin Poirier ...

“He’s a quiet little hillbilly from the back a**e of nowhere. His cousin is probably named Cletus.”

HE’S A SOCIAL MEDIA STAR

This is a small collection of McGregor’s best posts on Twitter from the past month.

@Benaskren Hey pube head. I'm the No.1 contender. I could sit and wait. But multi 6 figure cheques feel so nice in my bank. You wouldnt know

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 23, 2014

Cruising Rio in our armoured vehicle. Toasting raises. UFC Head of Operations. UFC Head of removing heads. pic.twitter.com/Jr4W6v9aRu

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 24, 2014

Cracking the soft part of the face turns me on. Its so delicate and beautiful and soft. I love it. pic.twitter.com/Y0Et697nPx

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 16, 2014

I demand all scared contenders bow before me and kiss each individual toe, in a public setting of my choice, for pardoning from execution.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 15, 2014

You've 24hrs to come forward and surrender your woman and all your belongings or you'll be hunted down and your head placed in my collection

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 15, 2014

Someone grab that World Cup quick. @DennisSiver we whooped you pussies on home soil. Like Id whoop you on any soil you little German midget.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 14, 2014

Remember, those are just his highlights from October.

HE KNOCKS PEOPLE OUT ... AND PICKS THE ROUND

You can be as controversial as you like, but if you can’t back it up inside the Octagon then people are going to tune out — ask Chael Sonnen.

Fortunately for McGregor, he does back it up.

He’s charged through all four opponents White has put in front of him, including highly-rated Dustin Poirier (16-3), who fell in the first round — as McGregor predicted.

Next up is Russian-German fighter Dennis Siver in January, but the bout everyone wants to se the most is McGregor-Aldo.

And if the man nicknamed “The Notorious” can beat Aldo — who is one of the greatest fighters in UFC history and hasn’t lost since 2006 — McGregor will officially become his sport’s biggest star.